BRUSSELS, June 7 (Xinhua) -- Voter turnout in European Parliament elections, which wrapped up on Sunday across the European Union (EU), may hit a record low, first election results show.

Voter turnout in the 2009 elections is 43.39 percent, according to provisional results released by the European Parliament on Sunday night. The 2009 rate is lower than the 45.47 percent in 2004, which was also a record low at the time.

The new record low turnout in 2009 is against the backdrop that the new assembly will have more powers if the Lisbon Treaty is finally approved by Irish voters in autumn in a second referendum. The Lisbon Treaty gives the European Parliament legislative powers in more policy areas, including security and justice.

The new European Parliament will have 736 seats, lower than the785 seats in the previous house.